Apple Drops $149 Price Tag of Milanese and Leather Loop Apple Watch Bands to $99

Wednesday September 11, 2019 7:27 AM PDT by Mitchel Broussard
Alongside the announcement of the Apple Watch Series 5 yesterday, Apple has now updated the price on some of its high-end leather and metallic bands.


Specifically, the original $149 price tag of Leather Loop and Milanese Loop ‌Apple Watch‌ bands has now dropped to $99. This means that they're only $50 more expensive than Apple's cheapest Sport Bands and Sport Loops, which cost $49.

Leather Loop is now available in Meyer Lemon, Black, and Saddle Brown; it only fits 44mm ‌Apple Watch‌ cases. Milanese Loop is available in Silver, Gold, and Space Black; it can fit both 40mm and 44mm cases.

Apple has not dropped the price of the Modern Buckle any further, although at $149 it is still $100 cheaper than it initially was at launch. Hermès bands are as much as $539, and the Silver Link Bracelet is $349, while the Space Black Link Bracelet is $449.

More information about the new ‌Apple Watch‌ Series 5 can be found in our full launch post on the new wearable.

Related Roundups: Apple Watch, watchOS 6
Tag: Apple Watch bands
Buyer's Guide: Apple Watch (Neutral)
52 comments

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matt_and_187_like_this
19 weeks ago

Actually, if you go into the apple studio and design your series 5, you can upgrade to the Milanese loop for just $50 more.


My faith in humanity has been lost in this forum.
Rating: 14 Votes
Avatar
justiny
19 weeks ago
MacRumors news forum members complain of Apple’s prices, insist TC is evil and demand his exit from the company.

Apple cuts prices.

MacRumors news forum members continue to complain of Apple’s prices, insist TC is evil and demand his exit from the company.
Rating: 10 Votes
Avatar
Zxxv
19 weeks ago

Apple tweaked it so that the clasp DOES come out completely. The original Milanese clasp can’t fully come out (which I prefer). Not sure why they changed it.


So it would lay flat on the AirPower charging mat...

...oh But haha
Rating: 8 Votes
Avatar
PickUrPoison
19 weeks ago

My faith in humanity has been lost in this forum.

If a $50 Apple watch band triggers you, the $539 Hermès band would probably cause a complete collapse. :eek: Medic!!

:D
Rating: 8 Votes
Avatar
WalterTizzano
19 weeks ago

If a $50 Apple watch band triggers you, the $539 Hermès band would probably cause a complete collapse. :eek: Medic!!

:D

I suspect the lost faith is due to the fact that replacing the default $49 band with a $99 band of course costs ‘just’ $50, so there isn’t any discount or reason to be surprised. It’s just basic maths.
[doublepost=1568213215][/doublepost]

Something amazing is happening at Apple, price cuts on the iPhone 11 (vs XR), price cuts on two amazing watch bands, and very affordable pricing on Apple TV+ and Apple Arcade. I need to use this to my advantage. ;)


all it’s happening is that sales are down and they need to lower prices. About time.
Rating: 7 Votes
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justiny
19 weeks ago

I found the Milanese loop on Amazon for $15 to be adequate... is the quality on Apple's that much higher?


I have some genuine bands and a ton of Amazon and eBay knock offs. In my experience, the knock offs are always adequate in the beginning but do not age well. They just don’t have the same quality of the genuine ones. Of course, YMMV.
Rating: 7 Votes
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newyorksole
19 weeks ago

From the series 4 launch, someone reviewed the band and said that the clasp was better, and similar to that of the sports loop in terms of ease of use. Apple did tweak the design so the clasp wouldn’t come out completely when taking it off. I stand corrected if I am wrong.


Apple tweaked it so that the clasp DOES come out completely. The original Milanese clasp can’t fully come out (which I prefer). Not sure why they changed it.
Rating: 4 Votes
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whoknows2597
19 weeks ago

I have some genuine bands and a ton of Amazon and eBay knock offs. In my experience, the knock offs are always adequate in the beginning but do not age well. They just don’t have the same quality of the genuine ones. Of course, YMMV.

I purchased a knock off midnight blue from amazon, and while it looks very close to the one Apple previously offered, my concern is how well the mechanism locks. Sometimes, I can hear the “click” and other times nothing. Though Apples bands are a bit pricy, at least you know what your getting when it comes to build quality and customer service.
Rating: 4 Votes
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Relentless Power
19 weeks ago

I found the Milanese loop on Amazon for $15 to be adequate... is the quality on Apple's that much higher?


Some have mentioned the magnets are stronger on the OEM Milanese loop and third party Milanese loops start to discolor after while versus Apples.
Rating: 4 Votes
Avatar
kup1986
19 weeks ago
Actually, if you go into the apple studio and design your series 5, you can upgrade to the Milanese loop for just $50 more.
Rating: 4 Votes
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